Filing taxes online isn't a new phenomenon, but it's an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pen and paper and to software packages such as Intuit TurboTax and H&R Block TaxCut. Last year, about 53 million people filed their returns online, with good reason. Online filers typically receive their refunds within 14 days; traditional filers who mail in their returns can wait up to six weeks. The chances of human error decrease as well, since IRS employees don't have to manually input data from electronic forms into the main computer.

It's not all fun and games. As with anything you do on the Internet, there's always the question of security and privacy, especially pertinent considering all the sensitive information contained on IRS forms. Also, not everyone qualifies to file online. For example, you can't e-file if you earned income from a state in which you don't live.

If you do qualify and online filing sounds attractive, you'll have to choose where to do it. Numerous Web sites offer tax preparation, and each one delivers its own twists. Here's a sampling of the major players.